History Film / CrimsonTide

** American [=SLBMs=][[note]]Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles[[/note]] use solid fuels that do not require fueling[[note]]This is not a refueling procedure, in fact the missiles need to be lined up using ship gyros, and the actual position ascertained, input into missile guidance computers and the actual targets position loaded up and this procedure actually does take approximately 15 minutes[[/note]], but the fueling sequence allows for a better RaceAgainstTheClock.

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Ramsey notes to Hunter as the Alabama is leaving port that he cannot and will not abide kiss-passes. He has to amend this less than a week in as Hunter's disguised disagreement in front of the crew sets a bad precedent for discipline, emphasising it is to be done in private.

* InstantlyProvenWrong: When Hunter and Weps are watching the footage from Russia, Weps idly suggests that it's not as bad as it looks. Cue Hunter's home phone ringing, along with Weps' beeper. It ''is'' as bad as it looks.

''Crimson Tide'' is a war film about the United States Navy's nuclear submarine USS ''Alabama'' (SSBN-731), which gets sent to the Russian Far East to deter the leader of a Russian civil war, a violent ultranationalist who's threatening to use nuclear weapons against the United States.

* {{Hypocrite}}: After lecturing Hunter about never contradicting or undermining each other in front of the men, for merely pausing and using different wording than him, Ramsey gets on 1MC and essentially tells the entire boat that Hunter is concerned about morale and he doesn't care.

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Ramsey notes to Hunter as the Alabama is leaving port that he cannot and will not abide kiss-asses...

* NewMeat: Subverted: Hunter is new to ''this'' boat, but is very experienced.
** Experienced in non-combat situations that is. A major part of the conflict is that Hunter is experienced but too young to have seen real action, whereas Ramsey is stated to be one of the last officers in the Navy with experience of war. Hunter handily dispels any doubts to his competence by taking out the ''Akula''.
** He also casts away any doubt about being unable to make the big decisions when he gives the men inside the bilge bay every second he can, but ultimatly firmly gives the order to seal them in to drown to save the ship.

** American [=SLBMs=][[note]]Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles[[/note]] use solid fuels that do not require fueling, but the fueling sequence allows for a better RaceAgainstTheClock.

Note on the title: "Crimson Tide" is the nickname for the sports teams at the [[UsefulNotes/CollegiateAmericanFootballConferences University of Alabama]].

* ActivationSequence: It takes 14 minutes for the ''Alabama'''s missiles to become ready to launch. It's also mentioned that the Soviet missiles, being much larger [=ICBMs=], would take a full hour to fuel and prepare for launch.

* ALighterShadeOfGrey: Played straight with Ramsey and Hunter. Despite the some efforts of the film to tell the viewer that both Ramsey and Hunter are equally right and wrong when dealing with nuclear warfare and weapons, the fact of the matter is that Hunter is portrayed in a more heroic light than Ramsey: he keeps his cool in nearly all situations, is Harvard educated, a MartialPacifist, willing to technically disobey orders for the greater good, and ends up being right. It also helps that he's TheProtagonist. Ramsey on the other hand is a rough and darker military man, being SergeantRock with bits of TheNeidermeyer sprinkled in. He punches Hunter in the face twice and threatens to outright murder another sailor in order to force Weps to launch the missiles. Ramsey was always the one to escalate situations, and was in the wrong to order Hunter's removal when Hunter refused to relay his order for a nuclear strike. While Hunter might've been partially wrong, Ramsey was wrong on all counts.

-->'''Ramsey:''' You're aware of the name of this ship [[note]]The correct Navy nomenclature for a submarine is actually "boat"[[/note]], aren't you Mister COB?
-->'''Walters:''' Very aware, sir!
-->'''Ramsey:''' It bears a proud name, doesn't it Mister COB?
-->'''Walters:''' Very proud, sir!
-->'''Ramsey:''' It represents fine people!
-->'''Walters:''' Very fine people, sir!
-->'''Ramsey:''' Who live in a fine, outstanding state!
-->'''Walters:''' Out''standing'', sir!
-->'''Ramsey:''' In the greatest country in the entire world!
-->'''Walters:''' In the entire world, sir!
-->'''Ramsey:''' And what is that name, Mister COB?
-->'''Walters:''' Alabama, sir!
-->'''Ramsey:''' And what do we say?
-->'''Ramsey/Walters:''' Go Bama!
-->'''Crew:''' Roll Tide!

* EyeScream: When the bilge bay floods one of the crewmen trapped there gets a flying bolt cap to the face.

* {{Foil}}: Hunter vs Ramsey, of course. In many ways the two men are mirror images of one another. Ramsey is the older and more experienced officer having seen actual combat, yet comes from a poorer, less educated background than Hunter. He is the hardass and firmly believes in GoodIsNotSoft and is firmly in the BloodKnight category. The way he motivates the crew is through the "man up" approach, with shades of fear and intimidation. Despite his poor background, Ramsey listens to classical music and enjoys intellectual debates. Hunter on the other hand is younger and more inexperienced, having never been in a combat situation, yet comes from a more educated and esteemed background, coming from Harvard. Hunters' preference is a much more positive, softer and inspirational approach to the men, and leans towards being a MartialPacifist. Yet in his spare time, he's shown doing violent, physical activities, like boxing and exercising.

-->'''Ramsey''': God help you if you're wrong.
-->'''Hunter''': If I'm wrong, then we're at war. God help us all.

* HeroAntagonist: This is mostly a GoodVersusGood situation, with dabs of GreyandGrayMorality dealing with nuclear weapons. Ramsey is a good person at heart wanting to do what's best for America, but narratively he's the antagonist; he is the darker and tougher military man, is the one to escalate situations (compared to the always cool headed Hunter), resorts to physical violence, and in the end is proven wrong.

** In a coffee break in the officer's mess, the Captain, his XO, and several officers discuss Von Clausewitz and his musings on war. Commander Hunter's assertion that the true enemy is war itself foreshadows how he eventually wins a nuclear war, by not starting one.

* HeWhoFightsMonsters: Played with when Ramsey threatens a sailor in order for force Weps to fire the missiles.

** As much of the film tries to present the situation as BothSidesHaveAPoint (including the final court martial), the reality is that Ramsey committed [[greater atrocities HeroAntagonist]] for the sake of performing his assumed orders (Ramsey is in violation of at least three articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice such as UCMJ Article 133: Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and Gentleman, UCMJ Article 128: Assault and UCMJ Article 80: Attempted Murder) than Hunter does trying to prevent them (Hunter certainly didn't threaten to kill anybody).

** As much of the film tries to present the situation as BothSidesHaveAPoint (including the final court martial), the reality is that Ramsey committed greater atrocities for the sake of performing his assumed orders (Ramsey is in violation of at least three articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice such as UCMJ Article 133: Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and Gentleman, UCMJ Article 128: Assault and UCMJ Article 80: Attempted Murder) than Hunter does trying to prevent them (Hunter certainly didn't threaten to kill anybody).

* GoodVersusGood: Ramsey and Hunter are both doing what they think is best for America in a difficult situation; however, [[HeroProtagonist Hunter is the more sympathetic character.]] and [[HeroAntagonist Ramsey isn't.]]

* BotheringByTheBook: Master Chief Walters refuses Captain Ramsay's order to arrest Hunter and replace him with another officer, a gross abuse of power and against regulations.

* CantKillYouStillNeedYou: Captain Ramsay threatens Weps with a gun to get the launch trigger. Weps is the only person on the ship that knows the combination to the safe with the launch trigger in it, and refuses to open it. The captain counts to three, but curses when he realizes that if he kills Weps, ''no one'' will be able to open the safe. So he points his gun at another sailor's head, and states that the sailor will die on the count of three. Weps is clearly horrified and relents, opening the safe. [[spoiler: Fortunately, the delay caused is enough that Hunter is able to remove the launch key in the CIC, disabling the launch system.]]

* CulturedWarrior: Hunter went to Harvard, and likes to ride horses. Ramsay listens to classical music in his cabin and is the one to initiate philosophical debates on the nature of war.

* HeroAntagonist: This is mostly a GoodVersusGood situation, with dabs of GreyandGrayMorality dealing with nuclear weapons. Ramsay is a good person at heart wanting to do what's best for America, but narratively he's the antagonist; he is the darker and tougher military man, is the one to escalate situations (compared to the always cool headed Hunter), resorts to physical violence, and in the end is proven wrong.

* HeroProtagonist: Hunter.

* HeroAntagonist: This is mostly a GoodVersusGood situation, with dabs of GreyandGrayMorality dealing with nuclear weapons. Ramsay is a good person at heart wanting to do what's best for American, but narratively he's the antagonist; he is the darker and tougher military man, is the one to escalate situations (compared to the always cool headed Hunter), resorts to physical violence, and in the end is proven wrong.

* HeroAntagonist: This is mostly a GoodVersusGood situation, with dabs of GreyandGrayMorality dealing with nuclear weapons. Ramsay is a good person at heart, but narratively he's the antagonist; he is the darker and tougher military man, is the one to escalate situations (compared to the always cool headed Hunter), resorts to physical violence, and in the end is proven wrong.

* ALighterShadeOfGrey: Played straight with Ramsey and Hunter. Despite the some efforts of the film to tell the viewer that both Ramsey and Hunter are equally right and wrong in a GoodVersusGood situation, the fact of the matter is that Hunter is portrayed in a more heroic light than Ramsey: he keeps his cool in nearly all situations, is Harvard educated, a MartialPacifist, willing to technically disobey orders for the greater good, and ends up being right. It also helps that he's TheProtagonist. Ramsey on the other hand is a rough and darker military man, being SergeantRock with bits of TheNeidermeyer sprinkled in. He punches Hunter in the face twice and threatens to outright murder another sailor in order to force Weps to launch the missiles. Ramsey was always the one to escalate situations, and was in the wrong to order Hunter's removal when Hunter refused to relay his order for a nuclear strike. While Hunter might've been partially wrong, Ramsey was wrong on all counts.

* GoodVersusGood: Ramsey and Hunter are both doing what they think is best for America in a difficult situation; however, [[HeroProtagonist Hunter is the more sympathetic character.]], and [[HeroAntagonist Ramsey isn't]].

* GoodVersusGood: Ramsey and Hunter are both doing what they think is best for America in a difficult situation; however, [[HeroProtagonist Hunter is the more sympathetic character.]], and [[Ramsey isn't HeroAntagonist]].

* GoodVersusGood: Ramsey and Hunter are both doing what they think is best for America in a difficult situation; however, [[HeroProtagonist Hunter is the more sympathetic character.]]

* GoodVersusGood: Ramsey and Hunter are both doing what they think is best for America.